Toasty Taco Ring on Longaberger Handled Platter

With fall coming and time for something toasty, here's a taco ring recipe your family will enjoy.  The big Woven Traditions platter I used is the same size as Longaberger's Handled Platter currently available, except a new one would be a solid color rather than my retired four-petal pottery design.  Wouldn't a taco ring be delicious-looking on a solid Paprika red, Eggplant purple, Sage green, Ebony black, Ivory, or Pewter gray Handled Platter?  The Handled Platter has rectangular handles cut into the short sides of the platter, but otherwise it's the same size as this retired one.  Visit my website or your consultant's to check it out!

My taco ring looks pretty bare.  Sorry I'm not a food photographer, but you can picture little bowls of sour cream and guacamole set in the middle of the taco ring, with shredded lettuce, tomato, and other toppings on the side.  Believe me, it was delicious.  If anything, the recipe has too much meat--I really had to pile it on.  However, many family members would appreciate having plenty of meat.

Taco Ring on Longaberger Handled Platter

Brown 2 pounds of ground beef.  Drain and add a package of taco seasoning and 1/3 cup water.  Stir in 1 can refried beans.

Unroll 2 cans refrigerated crescent dinner rolls and separate into 16 triangles.  Arrange triangles on the tray with short sides toward the middle, overlapping slightly.  Mound the taco meat in an oblong ring on top of the rolls.  Sprinkle with shredded cheese and then bring end points of triangles up and over the filling. 

Bake in 375 degree oven for 25 minutes or until golden brown. The vitrified pottery platter holds heat or cold well and will help keep the taco ring warm until everyone is served.

The recipe I adapted this from suggested using scooped-out bell peppers to hold sour cream, salsa, and guacamole.  Those would be cute tucked in the middle of the taco ring! Longaberger is also temporarily bringing back those handy retired Dessert Bowls in October, and they would be nice in the middle holding these toppings as well.